‘Fast and Furious 7′ Gets Even More Badass as Kurt Russell Joins the Cast

A few weeks ago, we reported that Denzel Washington had turned down a role in the upcoming 'Fast and Furious 7.' Now, Variety is reporting that the great Kurt Russell is in talks to step into the part instead. Goodbye, Mr. Washington. We love you, but this is a case where you will not be missed.

Fans of good things will know Russell from 'Escape From New York,' 'Big Trouble in Little China,' 'The Thing' and 'Death Proof.' Fans of bad things will know him as that cool guy who always elevates whatever movie he's in by sheer force of will. In other words, he's a perfect fit for the increasingly loony 'Fast and Furious' franchise, which prides itself on adding to its ridiculously macho ensemble with each entry. Few actors contain even a sliver of coolness that can match Russell.

The details of the role remain under wraps, but the fact that they've been pursuing a big name for the part suggest that it's a big deal, even if it's a supporting turn. We can see Russell easily playing either a hero or a villain in this series, but let's face it: hero would be ideal because we'd get to see Snake Plissken kick ass alongside The Rock and Vin Diesel.

'Fast and Furious 7' is set to begin filming soon for a July 11, 2014 release. The plot is still unknown, but it will somehow revolve around Jason Statham's villain (glimpsed in the post-credits teaser of 'Fast and Furious 6') seeking revenge against Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker and the rest of the crew who killed his brother. The only way they'll top the last one is if the movie features Kurt Russell hijacking a space shuttle and chasing Statham through the Grand Canyon.